by Ian Royal »
04 Oct 2009 13:13
Sarah Star Ian Royal confidence and leadership for the players.
When we put a ball in the box, it's not directed to someone, it's punted in hopefully to what should be a danger area. The players are devoid of ideas and the confidence to do stuff, so the movement is poor. Which only exacerbates that.
There's a hesitency and uncertainty which means defences have time to reorganise and the other team are always first to the ball. Or if we are first to the ball, we have to take a touch or two to find the perfect scoring chance. By which time the player has been tackled.
Shots are the same as crosses, hit hopefully towards the target. There's bugger all real conviction in them. They're not being placed to beat the keeper.
How can Rodgers sort that out though, Ian, if we don't win or score even? Seems like a self-perpetuating circle and I wouldn't know how to break it.
Give them a oxf*rd rocket, get back to basics, keep it simple, keep it consistent and play his best team.
Work on fitness in training again. Work on movement off the ball. Work on the individual partnerships all across the pitch so the players all know what each other should be doing and where they are going to be at any given time. Get the players confident that they know what they're doing and then suddenly, you're right winger can swap with your left winger and cause confusion. Your defensive midfielder can burst forward unmarked as the attacker hold back.
What we don't need is to carry on pissing about with an overly complicated formation that requires you to get it spot on or you don't have a chance. With one uprfont the central midfielder and wingers have to be capable of scoring regularly. Kebe & Howard definitely aren't They have to be very good at getting into the box oon the end of things. They aren't With one upfront it's far too simple for the defenders to just pick off every attack for a team low on form and confidence. Especially when your striker really isn't very suited to the role.